Nottingham Forest have been strongly advised to launch an ambitious raid on Everton this summer, with legendary former senior scout Bryan King backing the Tricky Trees to complete a transformative double move for forwards Beto and Thierno Barry.
As Forest prepare for a grueling Premier League campaign under mounting squad pressure, the Midlands club is actively weighing up attacking reinforcements. With senior strikers Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi both entering the final year of their respective contracts at the City Ground, recruitment chiefs are searching high and low for proven top-flight firepower.
Bryan King Backs Forest Move for Everton Duo
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, veteran scout Bryan King highlighted why either Beto or Thierno Barry would represent an incredible asset for Nottingham Forest’s frontline.
“I would have thought that one of Everton’s priorities would have been last season to get a real old-fashioned centre-forward up front, but that hasn’t materialised,” King explained. “I think he’s a decent squad player [Beto], to be honest. I think either of them, Barry or Beto, could be a plus for Nottingham Forest to go for. But again, if you’ve got any sense, you’re not going to sell until you’ve got your replacements in place.”
Beto, who arrived at Goodison Park in 2024 for a fee worth around £25 million, finds himself in a precarious contract situation. With just one year remaining on his current deal and no signs of an extension on the horizon, the Guinea-Bissau international could leave for free next summer unless the Toffees cash in now. Despite taking flak from pundits last season, Beto quietly delivered a highly respectable return of nine Premier League goals from just 17 starts, proving his lethal penalty-box instincts and sheer physical dominance by winning over 7.6 duels per game.
Thierno Barry and Forest’s Forward Planning
Alongside Beto, fellow Everton striker Thierno Barry has also been dragged into the summer transfer spotlight. Following his big-money arrival from Villarreal last summer in a £27 million deal, Barry endured an inconsistent debut campaign in English football. While it would likely take a substantial, eye-catching fee to convince Everton to part ways with the 23-year-old, his high ceiling continues to turn heads across the division.
Meanwhile, Forest’s internal striking department is experiencing its own shake-up. While Igor Jesus remains a core piece of the puzzle, Arnaud Kalimuendo has breathed new life into his City Ground career with stellar pre-season displays, scoring in consecutive friendlies following a productive loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt where he netted six goals in 19 appearances.
Whether Forest decide to test Everton’s resolve with a formal bid for Beto or test the waters for Barry, the closing weeks of the transfer window promise plenty of fireworks on Merseyside and in the East Midlands.
Do you think Nottingham Forest should sign Beto to lead their line, or should they look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
